Closure System for Tubular Organs

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a surgically implantable adjustable ring comprises a ring body, which includes a closure system having first and second end parts. The ring body is designed to be closed around a tubular organ by the closure system, constricting the tubular organ by forming a loop. The first end part is shaped like a sleeve having a first and second end portions, and is designed to receive the second end part of the ring. The sleeve is substantially perpendicular to the main direction of the first end part of the ring, and the second end part of the ring includes a locking protrusion adapted to hold the sleeve in position, securing the ring in a closed position by engaging the locking protrusion in an opening disposed on the sleeve.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to surgical devices for adjusting the diameter of tubular organs such as the esophagus, the stomach, the colon or the urethra. Such devices may be used as sphincters (e.g. anal or urinary sphincter) or for the control of obesity.

It more precisely relates to surgically implantable adjustable rings for encircling said tubular organs.

STATE OF THE ART

Surgical devices for adjusting the diameter of tubular organs are disclosed in patent documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,298, U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,604, FR 2 823 663, WO 01/85071 and WO 03/059215.

The device disclosed in WO 03/059215 has a ring shape which comprises a first and second end parts and which is designed to be closed around a tubular organ towards its two end parts by a closure system to adjust the diameter of said tubular organ by forming a loop, the first end part forming a sleeve having a first and second open end parts and which is designed to receive the ring second end part, the sleeve main axis being defined along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the main direction of the ring first end part, the ring second part furthermore comprising a locking protrusion adapted to hold the border of the sleeve second end part and thereby to secure the ring in a closed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved closure system for the previous cited prior art devices.

This and other objects are achieved with the device as defined in claim 1.

An embodiment of the invention will be discussed in a more detailed way here below together with FIGS. 1 and 2.

The adjustable ring 1 comprises a first 3 and a second 4 end parts.

Any suitable material can be used with the ring 1, e.g. a biocompatible elastomeric material. The external part of the ring 1 can be more rigid than the internal part, this later one having an internal diameter which can be adjusted. The first end part 3 forms a sleeve which is designed to receive the second end part 4.

The second end part 4 has an extension 11 which contains adjusting means, for instance a wire which can be pulled or pushed in order to adjust the ring 1 diameter.

The sleeve 3 has a first end part 6 which is reinforced by a flange 12 and a second end part 7 which contains a hole 5 designed to receive and efficiently retain a protrusion 2 which is fixed to the ring second end part 4.

For closing or opening the ring 1 the sleeve second end part 7 is provided with an extension forming a flexible tab 9.

The tab 9 contains a hole 10 situated close to the sleeve hole 5. The presence of the hole 10 in the tab 9 provides several advantages, in particular by preventing the accidental opening of the closure system when the tab 9 has to support forces which tend to fold the tab 9 in the direction of the extension 11. The forces may be due to the movement of the patient or the organs of the patient or to the fluid or bolus passing through the tubular organ. The zone between both holes 5, 10 is reinforced by a flange 8. The other sides of the tab hole 10 are also reinforced by flanges 13, 14.

The protrusion 2 shape is designed to closely match the flange 8 shape.

The invention is of course not limited to the above cited example.

For instance, the hole 10 can be replaced by a portion being more flexible than the remaining part of the tab 9.

Such a more flexible portion can be obtained by different ways, for example in making the portion thinner than the tab.

The invention can be used for different uses, for instance as a sphincter or as a gastric ring. 

1. A surgically implantable adjustable ring for constricting a tubular organ, the adjustable ring comprising: an open ring body having closure system including a first and a second end parts, the open ring body being designed to be closed around the tubular organ; the closure system constricting the tubular organ by closing the ring and forming the ring into a loop; and the first end part including a sleeve having a first and a second portions, the sleeve being designed to receive the second end part, the sleeve being disposed in a substantially perpendicular direction in relation to the direction of the first end part, the second part comprising a locking protrusion adapted to engage an aperture in the sleeve, thereby securing the ring in a closed position.
 2. The adjustable ring according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the sleeve contains the aperture, and wherein the second portion of the sleeve partially overlaps the the second part when the ring is in the closed position.
 3. The adjustable ring according to claim 2, the first end part further comprising a reinforcement structure.
 4. The adjustable ring according to claim 1, further comprising a tab extending from the second portion of the sleeve.
 5. The adjustable ring according to claim 4, wherein the tab comprises a portion more flexible than the remaining portion of the tab, the flexible portion being situated in the proximity of the aperture, the flexible portion preventing an accidental opening of the closure system after the adjustable ring is disposed around the tubular organ.
 6. The adjustable ring according to claim 5, wherein said flexible portion comprises an opening.
 7. The adjustable ring according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcement structure comprises a flange disposed transversally to the external perimeter of the ring. 